A new season is nigh, and having this year passed 140 years of existence the Villa (surely!) will now proceed to resurrect itself and again become a force to make the 150th anniversary a time of true celebration. They say that Management by Objectives is a worthwhile approach, and it strikes me that a target of the 150th anniversary to be ‘back there’ is a realistic objective given where the club is right now.

But the events of the past few weeks – particularly the affair of the Lions Clubs – seem to me to indicate that the club’s management are trying to enforce a code of conduct amongst the supporters which amounts to “gentrification” as one ESPN blogger has put it, and it has been met with some resistance. But in this age of deep austerity measures and difficulty in keeping body and soul together for those of this world who are the traditional footie followers, the will to initiate a deep protest seems to have evaporated. Despite the fact that responsibility for the state of the affairs on the pitch in this past three years lies with the owner and his management, there has been an on-going tone of denial from that corner: they have at times inferred that it is the fans that are at fault. And though Paul Faulkner has gone, the club’s management seem to continue to believe that by tightening the rules concerning supporters’ behaviour they are going to win the support of the fans.

Furthermore, it is clear that the management believe that it is the Lions’ Clubs responsibility to generate more fans to the Villa cause. The situation is unbelievable, yet the crucial factor is this: performances and results on the pitch is the main issue that will help to modify the fans’ attitudes and also to bring in new supporters. It is this issue which is surely the most important, or else what is Aston Villa about? The club exists for football, not for the careers of the club’s management! Traditionally, it has been mainly a combination of the quality of play and individual heroes that has fed the fans’ enthusiasm, and in recent years there has been a significant lack of both apart from the upsurge of Benteke and, perhaps, Vlaar, both of whom have been absent from the field for significant periods leaving behind a team of (mainly) mediocrity for the fans to watch.

So, my message to the Villa management would be to get their fingers out and stop concentrating on hospitality and telling people what to do, and provide what the fans come to watch – which is entertainment on the pitch. In fact, the summer’s events seem to indicate that there has been an attempt to rectify that not unimportant issue by dismantling the ‘bomb squad’ and by bringing in two former England internationals. But this has been done on the cheap and the proof of the pudding can only be in the eating.

Despite all, I am in the glass-half-full camp of believing that there is sufficient talent in the Villa squad for us to see some progress being made this year and towards a plan for 2024. The availability of Gardner and Grealish can only add to the positivity of the presence of Benteke and (we hope) N’Zogbia – and maybe the defence will be better too.

But the delivery of Villa’s performances is also a management issue, and the underlining question is “Has Lambert worked out how to improve Villa’s home form?”.

These appear to be the main targets for this season:

1. A mid-table finish.
2. Inspiring runs in the cups.
3. Much-improved results at home.
4. The development of Grealish and Gardner.
5. The sale of Aston Villa to a good buyer.

UTV!

Comments 84

  1. Great piece John, agree with every word. I’ve never bought into this twelfth man business, supporters need something to cheer and only a fool would cheer anything and oh for a cup run coupled with mid table mediocrity.
    On the subject of cup runs ESPN had a good article last week debunking Lambert’s comments of last season and showed that the myth that cup runs jeopardise your EPL status is just that, a myth. In fact the opposite was true, a cup run usually coincides with an upturn in form.
    So Capital One, FA or Egg Cup bring them on, we haven’t a prayer in the League let’s put some silverware in the trophy cabinet.

  2. Nice piece JL

    On the face of it I would have to agree, performance and success on the pitch are a sure way to get the fans on their side, but that’s not all.

    If that were the only reason then most of the lower leagues would not exist.

    For me, and this is purely personal, I support Villa, not just for the performance on the pitch. It’s about being part of something, having a common connection with others like me. On match days I have a pub full of friends I don’t know, but we are all there for the same reason.

    Lets face it the only thing that has kept us together in recent times is each other, cos the football has been shite!

    Maybe the PR machine has realised its cheaper to control the fans than it is to replenish the team!

  3. JL

    good piece as always mate.
    In our rush to make/not lose money, we have definitely took our eye off of the most important part of any company, the product. No matter how they dress the situation up our product is crap, we have a great long standing and respected brand name but the product stinks. Brand loyalty will only get you so far, if your iphone developed glitches, worked sometimes and was useless others but came with annoying PR, you’d probably switch to android.
    As a supporter you are more likely to become apathetic, stop attending/watching and drink more. supporting any other team would be impossible if your blood runs claret and blue so do you go into hibernation and forget football exists? that’s what many have done and no amount of PR will bring them back but a change/upgrade of product could.

    all your points are valid and achievable but the main thing for me is we start looking and playing like a football team so we can have something to be proud of again

  4. I am not holding much hope for Gardner.

    I’m reading a great book called the nowhere men at the moment. One of the scouts was watching a decent chelsea midfielder in the u14’s and described him as a ‘Gary Gardner’….decent academy player but will never make it. And thats before his 2nd injury!!! Hope he is wrong though.

    Hopes for Grealish but in reality how many academny kids make it?

  5. andrew

    I would assume that the majority of professional footballers come through someone’s academy with some lucky lads being spotted in non league matches and making the big time or a least a wage. it would be interesting to know the stats of players making it at their parent club VS somewhere else once they are sold/released
    as I’m sure they don’t grow on trees 🙂

  6. JL

    The reason for the code of conduct has happened because of serious events that have happened, and now I know more of the facts, I understand them. In this world today responsibilities for organisations are very different. The days when I could hire a man to do repairs, and he fell off his ladder, were his fault, is no longer so. It is my home, and my responsibility. The same applies to Aston Villa, and the recent issues of ticket touting and death threats, put a different perspective on things, and talking to our own chairman, he is in agreement with the majority of chairmen, who saw the need for the code, and the abuse clause is about abuse, not criticism of players and club. Have we forgotten how much abuse was given to Joe Bennett, and was uncalled for, to the extent he could not use his twitter account. I wonder how many fans would have been happy, if it had been there son?

    The team is important, but in today’s world so are the facilities and the fan base which generates such great friendships. I continue to make new friends every week, because I am a Villa fan, and there are far more of us, than attend Villa Park every week. I also enjoyed a cool pint of San MIguel in superb surrounding at a sensible price in the Holte Suite under the Holte End last Saturday…!!!

  7. Rotterdam/Mark, et al…

    Surely it’s Villa’s play that gained them so much following and status in the first place and what for me is so frustrating is that this ownership made a big play about Villa’s proud past and of understanding Villa’s traditions and yet have made such a pig’s breakfast out of it.

    As one who once delivered pig swill to farms, and poured it out into the troughs, I assure the owner it’s not the preferred occupation in life…

    Much better to be at the head table in the banquet! 🙂

    Rod,

    I totally agree with your point about it being a social matter as well, but surely that might have not been such a big thing unless the Villa and its traditions hadn’t first existed?

  8. Paul,

    I respect what you say but I’ve had it from another reliable source that the matter is not quite as you seem to have been informed.

    I’m not saying you’re wrong, and I am sure there’s no smoke without fire in this case, but it’s interesting that nearly all of the clubs affected were reasonably local ones and therefore ones that I would have thought would have needed more sensitive attention from the club. Surely you don’t want to be at enmity with the local support that fills seats at match time?

    I stand by what I have inferred about the lack of empathy from the Villa management. It’s been a developing issue for quite a long time and particularly following 3 years when the club’s performances have been so poor the club’s approach seem to have been far from the best i.m.o.

  9. Paul (to follow on),

    The point of my article was to underline that it’s performances on the pitch that are going to improve the supporters relationship with the club, and that it’s that issue (not the specific argument about the Lions Clubs) that’s key.

    Since I was there in 2007-on there seemed to be a lot of emphasis put on providing nicer facilities at the Villa – which is all very well when you have a good team, but not when you’re being served tripe on the pitch.

    Still, maybe there are signs at the club that the attitude is gradually changing… We shall see!

  10. Mark

    I did mean academy players making it at there own club……maybe they do but just not at Villa!

    I saw that Crowly signed his contract with Arsenal…makes me sick. There raving about him 🙁

  11. John,

    Well written piece, mate. It’s in a nutshell.

    Yes, the football needs to be the main focus.

    It’s not Lions Clubs’ responsibility to generate more fans for Villa. Why do they think that it is?

    I also don’t like to hear players being abused. Bennett didn’t deserve the spite spat his way last season. He’s a pro footballer, so criticism is fair game, but not relentless and degrading abuse.

  12. All of the issues of separation of fan from club and its management is down to on-field performance, on-field performance drives fans desire to attend, on-field performance drives results, those results drive league position, tv revenue and sponsorship revenue.

    Disgruntled fans, the closing of ranks within the club’s off field activities are all down to Villa not being a great place to be as a fan or employee, you can be guaranteed that if were winning every week club management would be very much more relaxed about there position. There presumably must be an element of job security issues as the club transitions to a new owner being a factor in this.

    Get on-field performance right and everything else follows, the money Man Utd generated for a very poor last season by their standards is because they had already established on-field performance revenues over 20 years and blips like last year don’t have a huge impact.

    Villa’s continual slump means we don’t attract better levels of sponsorship/tv revenue which would drive buying better quality players. At the moment our income services day to day running leaving no excess for investment. It is a vicious circle but the solution simply requires better investment in playing and coaching staff.

    Easy to say as it’s not my money but while the game doesn’t exist without fans, the game thrives without fans money, we aren’t an integral part of the equation at Villa anymore not in terms of financial contribution and it appears now not in terms of club direction, no representation at board level, volunteers who run the Lions clubs demonised and requested to sign a code of conduct under threat of explusion.

    Things are bad at Villa at every level, new ownership is essential to remove the rot, Randy isn’t interested in the detail anymore, the board are on limited time, so why change anything if you’re not going to keep your job at the end of those efforts.

    On a positive note and to prove that the glass still exists half empty or otherwise, the imminent arrival of Carlos ‘The Rock’ Sanchez closes an obvious gap in the team and could allow a restructuring to allow existing players to thrive in preferred positions.

    UTV

  13. andrew

    most clubs in the prem seem to have a slow drip fed some more than others,
    arsenal, Everton and Southampton seem to promote the most as did manure.
    I don’t think we have been that bad its just that most are not of the desired quality and don’t last more than 2-3 seasons and only because we are desperate lately.Gabbys pace made him the exception.
    Gardener has looked heads above his team mates all through his career but maybe its big fish in small pond for him? we will see. Grealish just has something about him and as matured slower than GG and could be our Rooney/bale. It doesn’t seem to follow much of a pattern but usually when One decent one turns up so do others, like bus’s 🙂

  14. Mark: when One decent one turns up so do others, like bus’s

    Yes! All through the 70s I was staggered at the flow of very good players coming out from the academy…

    Little, Gidman, McDonald, Deehan, Shaw, Gibson, Williams…

    Surreal times.

  15. Paul- the club should have never put Bennett on a QaA session anyway. What did they expect from the fans? The guy has been shite. Some of the questions were hilarious and not abusive though

    Grealish better start on Saturday with Gabby and Wiemann know where to be seen. I expect a bore draw or a Stoke win. Can’t see us taking the game to them, attacking passing like normal sides. I’m going in the Stoke end with my mate who supports them so I hope we batter them but can’t see 3 points

    Pressure will mount on Lambert straight away if we lose our first two games. Imagine if we lose our first home game of the season ?

  16. if that table comes true it will be the closest run league for years, everyone is expecting man utd to re-emerge and Everton and spurs to fade? don’t think its as clear cut as that. pre-season is just that pre-season I’ve never seen it have a massive effect one way or another. teams have come into the season off of 6 wins only to bomb . if you go by who should beat who it also means nothing as so many freak matches get thrown up so I’d like to see what percentage they have put down to luck good or bad 🙂

  17. On that table Hull has a greater chance of Relegation and a partial point more than Villa. 🙂 Nice to see QPR and Harry at 19th though.

    There has to be some decorum amongst the fans clubs. The nastiness was/is uncalled for and I agree to a point with a code of conduct. It’s poor form when we chuck shit with the impunity the web gives us. Also the lack of civility in public hidden behind so called personal rights. Or the anoniminity a crowd provides to act like a thug or jerk.

    That prediction on the end result can be used as a financial ability of said teams. 9th down have a similar amount to spend and have created very competitive teams. It’s how it should be. The ability to develop, scout, and coach is what this game is about not unlimited money. Nothing will change by 2024 except we will all be 10 years older if that doesn’t change.

  18. Ian and Mark, it’s all just educated guess work and one or two teams will exceed expectations and a few will do the opposite. It’s been said a few times but it’s worth repeating that the key to our season will be how quickly Benteke comes back and what mood he’s in. The rest of our strikers don’t look like they’ve got a goal between them.

    I’ve been dodging Villa stuff lately because it’s all been doing my head in, so I’m not sure if this stat for our new creative midfielder has been commented on before:

    “Joe Cole’s most recent PL assist came two days before Paul the Octopus died in October 2010” (Duncan Alexander of Opta).

  19. andrew p

    the joe cole signing made no sense to me when we have nzogbia and grealish and maybe westwood and gardner once we have a DM sorted, 6 years ago maybe but he’s so far over the hill he’s climbing the next one.

  20. Your 5 goals are spot on john! Old king coke brings a bit of experience and leadership for the young lads on the cheap lets hope he’s still got a few tricks up his sleeves to boot!

  21. Don’t you think ol’ Joe has more to offer than just on field performance? His experience is needed more than his playing time.

  22. Mr. Biggs, bears are a problem this year. I had my garbage strewn as I was getting it ready to go to the dump. I missed the bruin by seconds. Of course I had a picinic basket ready to give him if confronted. 🙂

  23. I’m not as excited about sanchez as others appear to be. I’ve never seen him play but I watched six different youtube clips of him last night basically arriving late into a tackle and bundling over a
    player . He just looked like
    a very well built and athletic stephen warnock. I’ll give him time before I judge him , I mean I WAS wrong about Stephen Ireland and delfonz………no wait…

  24. Prox, well playing in the World Cup and la liga let’s hope he’s cool on the ball. Jean makoun the 15th or whatever his cool name was looked class when he arrived that was a real mystery… Language issues, no permit? I’d love to camp outside white hart lane and bid on their castoffs dembele, Townsend yes pls but we won’t have the loot til randy sells up.

  25. prox

    so you don’t think mr keane can judge a player then? at least he is a DM and did ok in the world cup. Also 48 caps and a nickname of the rock, goes with concrete, match made in heaven. all we need is trowel and hod to turn up and we should have a decent wall

  26. Ian, well that serves you right fraternizing with bruins when you’re a flames fan when you should be a Canucks loyalist! You must have done a cruyff turn to elude the big bastard if Sanchez doesn’t work our ur pencilled in as the holding midfielder mate!

  27. Good evening John and an excellent read as always . I agree that the Lions Club episode is ridiculous . I have chatted to the Chairman of Sutton Coldfield Lions, one of the ten refusers and the alleged “death threats, ticket touting and abuse” was first mentioned after the club were receiving bad press for treating it’s supporters clubs in this way. This was not given as a reason for the code when they were asked to sign it – make of that what you will . The club then got into a stand off with the local clubs with the consequence that Sutton have set up it’s own independent supporters club .
    No one wants to see footballers or club personnel abused but I doubt whether it is the chairmen of Lions Clubs dishing out the abuse or death threats . I agree with Frem – what clot at the club PR dept put the most criticised player up for a Q and A? Do they not read the AV OS comments .
    Well Stoke is a sell out – can’t wait to see how we do .
    Thankyou for the good holiday wishes , Ian and ST75 .

    Can’t wait to get there now Runtingz but with two very expensive teenage daughters I won’t have as much money left for your expensive pressie as I’d hoped 🙂

    ST 75 really look forward to meeting Carl Chinn – the family tree under way ATM . Xxxxxxxx

  28. Hi all

    Sorry for the lack of visits over the summer, had a bit on with very busy work, hospitalised wife, major house renovations and a world cup to watch!

    Forever the perennial optimist, am I the only one watching this season through my fingers expecting a horrific car crash of a season?

    Quick questions, is their an AVL Fantasy League this year.

  29. Oh I see , he’s a keane signing is he? Dont think I dont see what you’re doing mr king ! I cant find it at the minute but when I do your name is going on my list.

  30. superbox

    not good enough mate, prox will make a note

    prox

    maybe you and all the others with my name on there list can get together and do something constructive with them like a small fire

    I believe Makoun was only here marginally longer than Dave Unsworth

    have come across cov city v cardiff in the cup on sky1 and there are about 20 people in the stadium OMG

  31. Forever the perennial optimist, am I the only one watching this season through my fingers expecting a horrific car crash of a season?

    Hell no. I think most Villa are expecting it. Let’s not forget Lamberk is still the manager

  32. Mark – Not on prox’s list already surely! Don’t I get a bye or something? I’ll get Suarez’s lawyers to set up an appeal!

    This new left back cannot, and I repeat CANNOT be worse than what we have had for the last few years.

    Can he?

    Not possible.

    Can he……

    Errrr…

  33. Mark,
    I’m an uncomplicated type, I like footballers to be able to play football. The premiership is full of athletes masquerading as footballers and if villa want someone to clatter into the opposition I’ll do it for a fraction of the average villa wage.

  34. Prox – Cheers, the fewer lists I am on, the better. Unless it’s Cheryl Cole’s 5 allowed shags list that is, obviously.

    And I think you are selling yourself short. Surely £50k a week to operate as our sweeper/enforcer is a fair wage for an (un)fairs day work.

  35. JOhn, your 5 targets are a realistic, these could and should happen at he very least.

    those players your reeled off Little, Gidman, McDonald, Deehan, Shaw, Gibson, Williams…

    if ever there was proof we need to develop players and not hope for a sugar daddy this is it.

    Of course it would mean we would need a clever daddy!

  36. makoun would have been a star for us if he had learnt english and houllier and mcallister had stayed on. .

    Houllier was on to the right thing with his possession footy, unfortunately he pissed all us villains off by rubbing up the welcome to anfield sign and the man city cup game when he just gave up and dropped all our main men and we lost 3-0.
    , when he was forced to he took a back seat and McAllister was doing decent job we looked good

  37. Thankyou RogerM – I am going to Cancoun, Mexico so hopefully won’t run into white Dee or her agent ! I only saw about 10 mins of benefit street so don’t know much about WD . Isn’t it near St Andrews ? New series of Peaky Blinders comjng soon though .

  38. Rog, some good points. Makoun made the game look strangely easy at times; one of those footballers prox talks about. Houllier is clearly a top football man but despite his encyclopedic knowledge of top euro talent and the contacts to pull the strings (cabeye apparently was coming to us) that Liverpool moment infuriated me!!! Bent was otherworldly at times under that regime!

  39. John L and for those interested – the chairman of Sutton Coldfield Lions, Mark Goodwin has been contacted by Paul Franks of Radio WM to appear on tonight’s show between 6 and 7 to discuss the Lions Clubs fall out . We can then hear first hand what info was given to the Lions Clubs and what has happened subsequently .

  40. Have a lovely holiday Jenny. How long are going for ?

    Lambert press conference at 2. Wonder if he will say anything on Sanchez?

    Gnabry being linked to us also. Just the type of creative player we need. Don’t know why it’s taking so long to get one in because all of last season and this pe season, we have been utterly dire attacking wise

  41. There is no bigger picture

    Koeman needs to learn some respect. Talking about wanting Vlaar again. I can see him ending up there

    Sanchez deal still holding up

  42. Tancredi Palmeri ‏@tancredipalmeri 46m
    Probably the possible loan of Gnabry to Aston Villa RT @_Mikedols: @tancredipalmeri any deals close or in negotiations at Arsenal ? #AskTanc

  43. Let’s hope it happens Graham. Really talented exciting final 3rd player. We have one in Grealish. I’m sure Lambert will still play Gabby Wiemann and KeA ahead of them though

    Think Swansea and Hull will really struggle this season. Palace and Stoke I think will be surprise packages. Top 10 maybe

  44. Thankyou John and Frem – I’m going for two weeks – but will be here in spirit and following the team from afar .
    Palace may be more of a surprise package than you think Frem TS reporting Pullis close to resigning as they won’t give him any transfer funds . Another one to struggle if so. Palace fans must be gutted. Manager of the year to boot.

  45. From Mark’s article after we are tipped to go down
    “Before condemning Villa to relegation, it’s prudent to run a deeper analysis of the playing squad rather than just new signings. True, Paul Lambert has continued to work within a tightly defined transfer budget, but this summer has seen a significant shift in his thinking. His previous approach of almost entirely recruiting young and inexperienced players has not worked, so the manager has drafted in seasoned pros.

    Philippe Senderos, Joe Cole, Kieran Richardson and Aly Cissokho are not world-beaters but they add a depth to the squad sorely lacking in recent campaigns. If Lambert is able to complete a deal for Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez — or a decent equivalent — and snap up a further attacking player it won’t have been a bad summer in terms of transfer business.”

    Is this a turn round in PLs thinking or is it the Keane influence ?

  46. Yes jenny my thoughts exactly. For the budget he/they are on they’ve done well and if we do lock down the rock and a skilled attacker then I’ll personally tip my hat to the man for a job well done this summer(including reintegrating bomb squadders and sending tonev types out on loan). UTV

  47. Well, not a lot gleaned from the WM chat …

    Broadly there’s dissatisfaction with Villa at Sutton as there is with a lot of fans, but if Villa’s signings and possible playing reorganisation do have an effect then the dissenters will not have much valid ammunition to fire against the club.

    Not that I think there will be an immediate success at Villa, but I do think we have a better chance of improved play this season.

    But I see that PL is now saying that he’s not sure about Vlaar’s loyalty… Oh dear.

  48. jenny
    some of it might well be, grealish definitely is .
    I’m not saying we will be world beaters but I’d like to see our chances of survival based on more than the transfer window. all these experts seem to completely gloss over the return of the bomb squad and the return of the long term injured, Bent Hutton Nzogbia Given stevens Okore Gardener benteke and Kosak plus the new signings. thats a team of relatively new players who have the advantage of knowing each other from years of training . all of them capable of a first team slot giving us competition for places at last. then of course theres Grealish who not one of the top 6 sucking knob heads will of seen or heard of and a few others on the rise like burke johnson robinson. for me its nowhere near as clear cut as its made out . we should be harder to beat and hopefully more creative by the end of the window.
    watch us lose the first ten now 🙂

  49. ” There is no loyalty in football anymore”

    Goodbye Vlaar.

    Apparently we won’t renew Gabbys new contract. Thank fuck. Sell him this month and get Delph signed up

  50. Yes Mr King I’ve skimmed a few braindead predictions of Villa’s demise but ur right none of then mention the bomb squad not injury returnees never mind young players nor new signings. Sometimes I question how hard it really is to play in the premier league in the modern age, definitely wonder how difficult it could really be to manage their and have to laugh at how anybody with a laptop can now write about it and a certain mr James and his nursery rhymes is testament to that! 😉

  51. We have fire power ? Haha

    Oh god Lambert. No, we have so called strikers, two of which can’t hit a barn door from 5 feet away, the other two are injured and one you do t even like.

    Anyway, we could have A top class striker but what’s the point if they don’t have service ? We won’t score goals if our strikers don’t get the chances. Richardson, Bacuna, ain’t going to supply many from out wide. Grealish has talent so Lambert won’t play him. Cole is old and injured. That leaves Zoggy who like to Hogg the ball a lot

    WINGERS!!!!!!

  52. Some twit over at sbnation wants us to play dross with concrete and okore with two ‘wing’ backs. If that lineup is announcing I may tune out and not come back til we have a new owner, manager or both.

  53. I’ll join you Ronnie

    If I see us lining up with 5 at the back against Stoke or
    1 of Gabby Kea and wiemann playing in any formation, I’ll just walk straight out and start driving back home. Grealish better start

  54. Jen

    Have a great holiday with your girls. My nieces and their families had a fantastic time there a few years back.

    Looks like we are now being priced out of the Sanchez deal….and Vlaar may be off….Are we going to get any good news before kick-off on Saturday??

    Gabby will have to take a massive wage cut to stay, but depends on whether anyone else would want him now. No news on a new contract for Delph either, or is all this stalling, because there is other news is imminent.

  55. Frem it might be fun to try dross Vlaar okore at the back. A midfield of bacuna delph Westwood Richardson. Then zog and Grealish as proper wingers with bent in the middle. Alas I doubt we have the skill and intelligence in our team to pull this cheeky formation off, we’d lose our shape and most likely revert back to a 5 4 q and what’s the point of that!

  56. So negotiations with Vlaar over a new deal haven’t even started and Lambert has no idea whether he will stay. The situation is the same with Delph except that Delph was practically pleading for a new deal in the USA. Can’t lay the blame for that one at Lambert’s door – mind blowing and yet totally predictable stupidity from the club.

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